RedSoxRooter

The mojo's been working fine so far. The mojo is even a little cocky right now. The mojo just saw Tavarez warming up in the bullpen. The mojo is scared.

I thought I read Clement will be back before we need another #5 starter in early July.

Game Info: Date: Monday, June 19th, 2006 First Pitch: 7:05pm EST Location: Fenway Park, Boston MA TV: NESN Starting Pitchers: http://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/6313.jpghttp://bellsouthpwp.net/c/h/chinigor/TALKSOX/VS.GIFhttp://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/7122.jpg http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/mlb/sml/trans/was.gif#36 Tony Armas Jr. (6-3, 4.18) http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/mlb/sml/trans/bos.gif#39 Kyle Snyder (0-0, 22.50) Nationals - Red Sox Preview: Tony Armas Jr. was considered a promising prospect for the Boston Red Sox nine years ago. On Monday, he finally makes his debut at Fenway Park - as a member of the Washington Nationals . The three-game series with Boston begins a 10-game road trip for the Nationals, who left Washington after a thrilling series victory over the New York Yankees this past weekend. Armas (6-3, 4.18 ERA) was part of one of the most famous trades in Boston history, dealt along with pitcher Carl Pavano to the then-Montreal Expos on Dec. 18, 1997 to complete the trade for Pedro Martinez , who had won the NL Cy Young Award that season. Martinez went on to win two more Cy Young Awards with the Red Sox and help lead them to the 2004 World Series title before departing for the Mets before last season. Armas reached the majors with the Expos in 1999, but had three mediocre seasons, reaching double-digit wins once - 12-12 in 2002 - before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2003. Fully recovered from the surgery, Armas is off to a great start this season, leading the Washington staff in wins and on pace to finish with his lowest ERA since 2001. He'll hope to continue the success Washington (32-39) enjoyed over the weekend, when it won back-to-back games against the Yankees in dramatic fashion. The Nationals rallied from a 9-2 deficit on Saturday to win 11-9, scoring the final two runs off New York closer Mariano Rivera . With Rivera unavailable to pitch on Sunday after appearing in the previous two games, the Yankees left starter Chien-Ming Wang in the game to spare the bullpen and Washington third baseman Ryan Zimmerman took advantage, hitting a game-ending, two-run homer to give the Nationals a 3-2 victory in front of a crowd of 45,157, the largest in RFK Stadium history. After losing five straight, Washington won consecutive home games and finished 5-6 on its homestand. ''It was great when we didn't see Rivera out there in the ninth,'' Jose Vidro said. ''I said, 'Oh, man. We've got a very good chance now, because the guy was starting to leave pitches up in the zone.''' Zimmerman, the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft, is batting .433 (13-for-30) during a seven-game hitting streak and has eight RBIs in his last five games. He's had three straight multihit games, at least one hit in all six interleague contests this season and is batting 10-for-24 (.417) in interleague play. The Red Sox (39-28) swept Atlanta in a three-game series over the weekend and return to Fenway Park for a nine-game homestand against NL East teams. Mike Lowell had a pinch-hit, go-ahead two-run double as the Red Sox scored six runs in the eighth inning on their way to a 10-7 victory on Sunday. ''You get a hit and you feel like you're on top of the world,'' Lowell said. ''I took a couple of good swings and worked the count to 3-2. I'm very happy with the result.'' David Ortiz hit his 20th homer - giving him five straight 20-homer seasons - and Manny Ramirez snapped an 0-for-18 slump with a home run for Boston. Kyle Snyder (0-0, 22.50) makes his Red Sox debut on Monday, hoping to pitch better for Boston than he did for Kansas City in his only start of the season. Snyder allowed 10 hits and nine runs - five earned - in two innings against the Rangers on June 8, but didn't earn a decision as the Royals rallied for a 16-12 victory. The right-hander was designated for assignment by the Royals on June 11 and acquired off waivers by the Red Sox on Friday. Snyder is starting in place of Matt Clement , who was placed on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder. He is 2-9 with a 5.91 ERA in 29 career games - 19 starts - all with the Royals, and spent most of this season in the minors. The Red Sox lead the all-time series with the Nationals 8-7, but the teams haven't met since 2001, when the Nationals were still based in Montreal.

Snow's uniform number is over 6 times that of Arod's.

mojo!

Papelbon is so f***ing intense

Schilling batting 9th? Wtf? TITO YOU'RE AN IDIOT!!!! YOU SHOULD BE FIRED! (sarcasm)

No. But what they should do is bring the Braves back to Boston and make it a two team city. Then move the Marlins to Atlanta and change their name to the Peaches . No, but seriously, Dontrell in Atlanta would bring all the blacks out to the game. They'd sell out at least a few games a year.... And Boston is totally ready to support a National League team - especially with the ticket prices at Fenway. And while we're at it, let's raise the mound and get rid of the DH! Or the pitcher ever batting! It's one way or the other. I'm done now. Is the game on yet?

Haha. Gammo also said Andruw would be on the block before Smoltz.

God, right now my Braves mojo is working everywhere!

They would not trade Hudson. The funny thing about Smoltz is that he may request the trade (or be fine with one) if the Braves are to rebuild. All that according to Gammons mind you.

This reminds me. Gammons also mentioned that the Sox brass admit to making a mistake on not signing Cabrera after 04 and that they may elect to go after him after this season. Interesting stuff.

Gammons on EEI this morning said that, should the Braves continue to struggle, they may look to trade Smoltz for prospects. He said Pitsburgh was a possibility but I'd love to trade for him. The guy is just awesome. I'd rather see Smoltz in the rotation way more than I ever wanted to see Roger back.

I really hope this is a killer pitchers duel. If it's 1-1 or 2-2 after 7 I'll be in baseball heaven - though in my version of baseball heaven there is no Joe Morgan calling the game.

Game Info: Date: Sunday, June 18th, 2006 First Pitch: 8:05pm EST Location: Turner Field, Atlanta GA TV: ESPN Starting Pitchers: http://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/4267.jpghttp://bellsouthpwp.net/c/h/chinigor/TALKSOX/VS.GIFhttp://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/4232.jpg http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/mlb/sml/trans/bos.gif#38 Curt Schilling (9-2, 3.59) http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/mlb/sml/trans/atl.gif#29 John Smotz (4-5, 3.78) Red Sox-Braves Preview: Looking to complete a three-game sweep of the slumping Atlanta Braves , the Boston Red Sox send ace Curt Schilling to the mound when the teams meet Sunday at Turner Field. Schilling (9-2, 3.59 ERA) hasn't lost in more than a month, winning four straight decisions since a May 10 defeat to the New York Yankees , whom the Red Sox (38-28) tied for first in the AL East with Saturday's 5-3 win over the Braves. Schilling missed the chance to become the first 10-game winner in the major leagues in his last start, pitching eight innings of one-run ball at Minnesota on Tuesday but departing with the score tied at 1. The Twins went on to win 5-2 in 12 innings. On Sunday, the right-hander will be opposed by John Smoltz (4-5, 3.78) as Boston looks to add to Atlanta's six-game losing streak. ''It's tough,'' Braves right fielder Jeff Francoeur said. ''It's tough to keep a positive outlook on it and keep a positive mind. It's tough to be confident ... but we've got to keep it going and turn it around.'' The Red Sox had lost a season-worst four in a row before this series. They're now in position for a fourth series sweep this season and first since taking four games from Tampa Bay on May 25-28. Meanwhile, Atlanta (30-39) continues to show no signs of being able to extend its record run of 14 straight division titles. The Braves are tied for last in the NL East, 13 games out of first, and are the furthest under .500 they've been since late in the 1990 season, when they finished 26 games back. The Braves have lost 16 of their last 19. ''We've been in this before,'' center fielder Andruw Jones said. ''Not that many games back, but we've been in situations where we lost a lot of games in a row and didn't play good baseball. I think everybody's trying to be too perfect, hitting-wise and pitching-wise.'' That may be affecting Smoltz, who hasn't pitched badly over his last three starts but has gotten only five total runs of support. The right-hander has a 4.50 ERA over that span and has lasted at least six innings each time, but took the loss in every outing. He allowed three earned runs in six innings of his last start Tuesday, but Florida defeated Atlanta 4-1 to keep Smoltz winless since May 22. ''It seems to be the same thing,'' Smoltz said after Tuesday's defeat. ''Three runs and we don't win. We have to find a way to start winning those games and, at the same time, if need be, win 1-0.'' David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis hit solo homers for Boston on Saturday and Alex Gonzalez went 3-for-4. The Red Sox got only six hits Friday night, but won 4-1 over an Atlanta club that has scored 19 runs in its six straight losses. Left fielder Manny Ramirez was held out of the Red Sox lineup Saturday with stiffness in his right knee. He's hitting .282 with 16 home runs and 41 RBIs, but is in the midst of an 0-for-17 skid. The situation worked out fine for the Red Sox , as manager Terry Francona changed his plan to give designated hitter David Ortiz a day off. Ortiz started at first base and hit a solo homer and a double, and Kevin Youkilis played left field and hit a solo homer. ''He's been out there a game and a half,'' Francona said of Youkilis in left. ''He's actually fine. I wouldn't put him out there if I was worried about it.'' Francona, though, is expected to give third baseman Mike Lowell the day off Sunday and play Youkilis there. The Braves were without third baseman Chipper Jones on Saturday. He has a sore right thumb he injured in Friday's opener and felt ill before the game, so he was scratched from the lineup. A sweep brings me $30! LETS GO RED SOX!

Guess I gotta start another game thread tomorrow.

You know what's f***ed up? I was talking to friend of mine who's a Braves fan and he said Beckett would dominate today because he was pitching in the heat. He's a warm weather pitcher. I was like "f*** THAT WE BROUGHT HIM NORTH TO AVOID THE BLISTER PROBLEM YOU *******". But it does make some sense and would suck if it were true.

BOOOOOOOO. I mean YOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKK!

It's so funny watching pictures of Atlanta on FOX. It is a really pretty city from 500 feet up, but once you're on the ground - on the streets - it's a total 3rd world country. And it's hot as a mofo.

So is this guy a punk or just dumb? I honesly don't know. He makes the arguement in article 2 that he just didn't know.. Either way, he's gotta reel his s*** in. Daily News Newsday

He got hit off the head with a line drive last week. A-la Clement.

Had to start this one early because I'm gonna be out and didn't want to mess with the mojo. Game Info: Date: Saturday, June 17th, 2006 First Pitch: 1:20pm EST Location: Turner Field, Atlanta GA TV: FOX Starting Pitchers: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_277417.jpghttp://bellsouthpwp.net/c/h/chinigor/TALKSOX/vsSMALL.jpghttp://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_433578.jpg http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/mlb/sml/trans/bos.gif#19 Josh Beckett (7-3, 5.26) http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/mlb/sml/trans/atl.gif#40 Lance Cormier (2-1, 6.10) Red Sox/Braves Game Preview: With their pitching problems seemingly growing more dire by the day, the Boston Red Sox need Josh Beckett to return to his early season form. Beckett looks to snap a personal three-start winless streak when he takes the mound for the Red Sox (37-28) on Saturday in the middle game of their series with the struggling Atlanta Braves . After winning his first three starts while posting a 1.29 ERA, Beckett (7-3, 5.26 ERA) has struggled, going 4-3 with a 6.79 ERA in his last 10 outings. Most alarmingly, the right-hander has given up 17 home runs over 54 1-3 innings in his last 10 starts. The 17 homers already mark a career high for Beckett. The right-hander is 0-2 in his last three outings while giving up 19 runs and seven homers in 11 1-3 innings. He lasted 5 1-3 innings Sunday against Texas, giving up four runs and five hits, including one homer, and didn't receive a decision in Boston's 5-4 victory. The Braves (30-38) are no strangers to Beckett, who spent his first five major league seasons with the NL East rival Florida Marlins . He owns a 4-7 record in 13 starts against Atlanta despite a 2.59 ERA. The 2003 World Series MVP has dominated a couple of key Braves hitters. Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones is 4-for-23 (.174) against Beckett while shortstop Edgar Renteria - who played for Boston last season - is 1-for-9. Beckett's performance takes on greater importance after Boston placed starter Matt Clement on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder Friday. Clement joins left-hander David Wells and reliever Keith Foulke on the DL for the Red Sox . Rookie left-hander Jon Lester gave Boston a lift by earning his first major league victory in the series opener Friday, pitching six strong innings to help the Red Sox win 4-1 and snap a four-game skid. ''You can't beat it,'' Lester said. ''It was a lot of fun.'' The Braves haven't been having much fun lately, losing five straight games and 15 of 18. Atlanta is eight games below .500 for the first time since finishing the 1990 season with a 65-97 mark. The club has won a record 14 straight division titles since. ''There's no experience in this locker room for a losing team,'' said Braves left fielder Matt Diaz , who went 2-for-4 on Friday in his third consecutive multihit game. ''Everybody is wondering when we're going to come out of this funk, when we're going to start winning games. I think we're all trying to do too much.'' Left-hander Horacio Ramirez (2-2, 5.06) returns to the mound for Atlanta six days after making a frightening exit. Ramirez left Sunday's game at Houston in the second inning after being hit in the forehead by a Lance Berkman line drive. The left-hander lay motionless on his stomach for a few seconds before leaving the field under his own power. ''It was one of the scariest things I've ever seen in baseball,'' Braves catcher Brian McCann said. ''It's something you never wish on anybody. It's awful, but he got up and wanted to keep pitching.'' Ramirez allowed seven runs and six hits in 1 2-3 innings of the contest, a 14-4 Atlanta loss. It was the first time in four outings since coming off the disabled list that Ramirez failed to pitch at least seven innings. Ramirez is 4-0 with a 3.90 ERA in five career interleague starts. He has never faced the Red Sox .

I accept this challenge

I don't know how many of you are watching the Braves broadcast, but they love Lester. They think he's dominant. And from watching, I'd say so. He doesn't get rattled.

I like Lester - A LOT. Good game so far too. So far... So what is the karma thing in the game thread? If we win tonight am I supposed to start the thread for tomorrow's game? Just curious as I have things to do before the game...